NuGet 2 Essentials: a review

Monday, January 20, 2014

If you are a .Net developer, there's no way you've never used, or at least heard about, NuGet. Unless you don't use any external dependencies, this package manager is a must have tool. And, if you want to learn it, you can spend a day or two reading various blogs, with lots of repetition and stale information, or you can buy this book, NuGet 2 Essentials (note: this is not an affiliate link), and have it all in one place, nicely organized.

Let me help you make the right choice then.

The book has it all. From the first click on the "Manage NuGet Packages" menu item, to writing a custom PowerShell installation script for your own package, to installing a private Nuget gallery on your own server. Sometimes you are led by a hand, with detailed step-by-step instructions, yet being explained each step and the motivations behind that. Sometimes you are presented with a choice, with explanations of the pros and cons of each option. Because of this, the book never seems too advanced nor too primitive. The flow is also pretty natural: first, we read about a particular problem a developer has, then a solution that NuGet offers, then we dive into the details. So, you can choose the level of involvement, for example, read the overview now, leaving the implementation details for the time when you need them.

This is why, although the book is over 100 pages, you shouldn't be afraid that it would steal a lot of your precious time. It is very easy to just pick the stuff you need and leave the rest for the time when it's needed. "NuGet 2 Essentials" has something new for every developer, from a student learning an essential Visual Studio plugin, to an OSS developer preparing her own package for publishing, to a team manager setting up a private NuGet feed.

As I wanted to write a balanced review, I tried hard to find something negative about the book. The only thing I managed to figure is that it could add a few words about the NuGet's predecessors (OpenWrap, Nu, and Horn). However, I must admit that it would serve only a theoretical purpose, which is not essential for a practical book like this.

In other words, this book is perfect. If you need to learn NuGet on any level, go get it.

This entry was written by Artëm Smirnov,
posted on Monday, January 20, 2014